China's SCS Strategy Thread

[Hendrik_2000]

Turn out the Chinese coast guard is not leaving scarborough shoal after all\. But they let the Fillipino fisher man fishing in the area and dont interfere with their activity . A good move by China accommodating without conceding it while at the same time take the wind out of the sail of US meddling

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Philippines: China still guarding shoal, but Filipinos back

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October 30, 2016

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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine aerial surveillance showed Chinese coast guard ships were still guarding a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, but they did not harass and stop Filipinos from fishing there for the first time in years, the Philippine defense secretary said Sunday.

The fishermen's return to Scarborough Shoal, which China effectively seized in 2012, was "a most welcome development" because it brings back their key source of livelihood, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

China granted access to the tiny, uninhabited shoal 123 nautical miles (228 kilometers) from the northern Philippines after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders this month. After his China trip, Duterte announced without elaborating that Filipinos may be able to return to the shoal soon.

A Philippine navy plane spotted at least four Chinese coast guard ships around the shoal during a surveillance flight on Saturday, Lorenzana said, adding that an earlier report by the Philippine coast guard that the Chinese had left the area was incorrect.

"Flybys of our planes reported Chinese coast guard ships are still there, but our fishermen were fishing unmolested," Lorenzana told The Associated Press, adding that the government would try to carry out surveillance flights regularly in the area.

It's unclear how long China would keep the shoal open to Filipinos or if there were any conditions attached.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said, "There are no written agreements or rules, but Filipino fishermen who went there lately attest that they were not driven away nor were accosted."

There have also been fewer Chinese ships sighted in the area since more than a week ago or around the time Duterte made his visit to China, Esperon said.

Duterte made clear that the dispute over the shoal was far from over. He said he insisted in his talks with Chinese leaders that the shoal belonged to the Philippines, but that the Chinese also asserted their claim of ownership.

Since 2012, Chinese coast guard ships had driven Filipino fishermen away from the area, sometimes with the use of water cannons. Farther south in the Spratly Islands, China went on to construct seven islands in recent years despite protests from other claimants and the U.S., which insists on freedom of navigation in what it considers international waters.

The new development brought joy to the first Filipinos who ventured back to Scarborough in flotillas of small fishing boats.

"We're happy that we were able to sail back there," said Gil Bauya, who returned Saturday with a huge catch of red snapper and other fish to Cato village in the northwestern province of Pangasinan.

"They just let us fish," Bauya said, referring to three Chinese coast guard ships fishermen saw at the shoal from a distance. "We were waiting what they would do, but they didn't do anything like deploying small rubber boats to chase us like they used to do."

After three days of fishing just outside Scarborough's lagoon, where the fish are bigger, Bauya said they ran out of ice to preserve their catch and had to sail back home for the All Saints' Day holiday. Amid the festive air in Cato, where villagers helped them unload their bumper catch, Bauya said he and his crewmen plan to travel back to Scarborough this week.

Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Beijing on Saturday that China's withdrawal from Scarborough Shoal would be welcomed by Washington.

He said it would be consistent with an international arbitration ruling in July that invalidated Beijing's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea. The July 12 ruling said both Filipinos and Chinese can fish at the shoal, but China ignored it and continued to block and chase away Filipino fishermen until a few days ago.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

I though this is an excellent analysis from Star Online a Major Malaysian newspaper. It hit the nail. Combine with the upcoming Visit of Tun Razak we see the ground is shifting in SEA

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Calming of the South China Sea
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Putting on a show: Japan Coast Guard security teams displaying tracking and capture drills by rigid-hulled inflatable boats against an unidentified ship at sea off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday during Duterte’s inspection visit. Japan was anxious to ‘clarify’ the Philippine president’s talk of turning the Philippines away from its traditional US-Japan alignment and towards China, making tensions in the South China Sea a key topic during his Japan visit last week. — EPA



THE high-profile visit of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to China earlier this month that culminated in Sino-Filipino ties being renewed after a five-year hiatus augurs well for Asean and the South China Sea, according to analysts.

It has an immediate stabilising effect in the South China Sea region and Duterte could be a model for others to emulate.

But the United States and Japan, whose security planning in the Asia Pacific has been jolted by this unexpected new alignment, are worried and are likely to persuade Manila not to give up on its “legal claim” for part of the South China Sea.

The 71-year-old Duterte, who has been blasting the United States in recent weeks, has repeatedly said he wants to pursue an independent foreign policy.



On the back of this new development, maritime disputes with China over the South China Sea are likely to soften for a while, especially as other Asean claimants may follow Manila’s pragmatic style in pushing for economic cooperation rather than confrontation.

“President Duterte’s visit is meaningful in the context of the Philippines and Asean.

“The tension level in the South China Sea is much lessened now, though not totally eliminated because the fundamental problems are still there,” says former Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan.

“The atmosphere is less toxic now. South China Sea claimants will go back to dialogues after realising that dialogues will be more useful. Hence, the Asean grouping will be stronger,” says Abdul Majid in a telephone interview with Sunday Star.

Dr Ngeow Chow Bing, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at Universiti Malaya, feels that Duterte’s turnaround will help narrow differences within Asean, which is good for Asean’s unity.

“For other South China Sea claimants, probably they are not going to rock the boat at the moment.

“Given the greatest adversaries (China and the Philippines) have mended ties, now is not the time for any party – including China – to push and press their claims again,” Ngeow tells Sunday Star.

“It should also be the time that all parties have renewed confidence in the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties) and the COC (Code of Conduct),” he adds.

The DOC, signed in 2002, is meant to build greater trust between the South China Sea claimant states and prevent disputes from escalating.

It serves as a reference point for the COC that Asean and China are expected to sign next year.

Manila looks East

In 2012, Beijing-Manila relations soured after China dislodged the Philippine navy from the Scarborough Shoal, just over 200km from the Philippines proper.

China has claimed sovereignty over most of South China Sea waters based mainly on historical reasons. Other claimants of the waters include Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

Apart from having rich oil and mineral deposits, this waterway is an important shipping route that sees goods worth US$5.3tril (RM22tril) passing through it annually. And out of this, US$4tril (RM16.8tril) of trade is linked to China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shows the way to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China,
At the instigation of the United States, previous Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III filed a complaint against China. On July 12 this year, an international tribunal at The Hague ruled there was no legal basis for Beijing’s maritime claims. The tribunal dismissed China’s vast claims in these vital waters.

This infuriated China, and it ignored the verdict. Tensions in the South China Sea immediately heightened that month after China announced it would build up a military presence on some islands, and the United States and its ally, Japan, increased their naval patrols and joint military exercises.

But for this pluckiness, the Philippine economy suffered. China has excluded Manila from its aggressive investment strategy in the region. Its multibillion-dollar regional investments have gone to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Duterte has witnessed the rest of the region along the belt-road route being showered with Chinese largesse since 2013.

And China’s rich tourists – who have boosted tourism in South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia – had previously been advised to stay away from Manila.

But things began to look up after Duterte, who came to power in June, adopted a softer tone towards China.

“Duterte’s turnaround was already beginning to be felt in the Asean meetings after July 12. The Philippines did not push strongly for the inclusion of the arbitration in Asean’s documents at either the Asean Foreign Ministers’ meetings in late July or the Asean Summit in early September,” observes Ngeow.

The colourful Duterte, who has declared he is a socialist, has emphasised he wants economic cooperation with China so that his country’s nearly 100 million people – most of whom are poor, with many having to go overseas work – can benefit.

He has complained that the United States, an ally for 70 years, has done little to uplift his country’s economic well-being.

And when US leaders and officials recently criticised him for his war against drug traffickers and extra-judicial killings, the acid-tongued president responded with a tirade of anti-US rhetoric.

The unpredictable leader told China’s Xinhua News Agency on the eve of his visit to Beijing: “China’s generosity to poor countries is without reproach” and “it’s only China that can help us”.

Deterte, who said his grandfather was from China, got what he wanted from his trip. China lifted the ban on the import of banana and other fruits from Manila.

Manila was promised multibillion-dollar soft loans, aid to build roads and railways, a return of Chinese tourists, and talks on the return of Filipinos to fishing grounds at the Scarborough Shoal.

Good news for China

For the Chinese, the renewal of ties with Manila was a huge, unexpected gift from Duterte. His visit – which was treated as world news by the West – was accorded an “exceptionally warm reception”, according to a commentator on CCTV, China’s official television network.

Chinese President Xi Jingping welcomed Duterte with full military honours at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct 20.

“Having Manila as a friendly neighbour will tilt the ‘Asia Pivot’ of the US, which has counted heavily on Manila to counter the influence of China in the region. This is good news for us, but bad news for the United States,” said the CCTV commentator.

In addition, Duterte’s move to play down the tribunal award during his visit might discourage other Asean members from adopting a confrontational attitude towards China, he added.

Why did the West pay so much attention to this news? The key reason was stated in an article in The Economist magazine: “Rub your eyes: America’s strongest ally in South-East Asia appears to be plopping like a ripe mango into China’s hands.”

Says Ngeow: “For China, Duterte’s administration must be terrific good news – something barely thinkable just a couple of months ago.

“Whether Duterte’s foreign policy change is sustainable remains to be seen, but if China cooperates well with Duterte, the change might be sustainable and long-term, and this will be one of the most remarkable realignments in international politics.”

Although the Philippine president still enjoys an extremely high level of popularity among his people after this policy shift, it is unclear whether he can control and direct the overall policy of the Philippines.

According to reports, some 80% of Filipinos are said to be pro-American.

And due to the enemies he has created in his anti-drug crusade that has reportedly resulted in the death of over 2,000 people, Duterte himself has said in jest he is not sure how long he will survive.

“I see Duterte as doing what is best for his country and the people. Economic development, and not confrontation, is important for his country now,” says Abdul Majid, now the president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association.

US, Japan in the way

“But the US and Japan, which have been close allies of the Phillipines for so long, will not sit still,” adds Abdul Majid.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

(Cont)
US, Japan in the way

“But the US and Japan, which have been close allies of the Phillipines for so long, will not sit still,” adds Abdul Majid.

He was right. Just after Duterte’ visit to China, US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel flew to Manila to seek clarification on Duterte’s shocking statement in Beijing that he wanted “separation from the United States”.

He was right. Just after Duterte’ visit to China, US assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel flew to Manila to seek clarification on ’s shocking statement in Beijing that he wanted “separation from the United States”.

Although the Filippine leader softened his tone and said Manila would still treat the United States as an ally, he repeated that he wished to see an end to joint military exercises with the United States and the presence of foreign troops in his country.

Duterte’s pro-China stance is causing the United States and Japan much discomfort because it means a major component of their security planning in the Asia Pacific may disappear, Ngeow points out.

The Philippines has a defence treaty with the United States and defence agreements that allow US troops to conduct joint exercises with Philippine troops. In 2014, Manila inked a pact with Washington granting US troops access to Philippine military bases.

“I want an independent policy and I will not kowtow to anybody,” Duterte reiterated before he left for Japan for an official visit last week.

Tokyo, wary of China’s rising influence, also wanted a clarification from Duterte about his foreign policy. Japan is Manila’s largest trading partner.

As though competing with China, Japan promised to give US$2bil (RM8.2bil) to help the Philippines build rail lines during Duterte’s visit there last Wednesday and Thursday.

Japan, the largest investor in the Philippines, has provided patrol boats to support Manila in the latter’s row with Beijing over its South China Sea claims.

And while in Japan, the volatile Duterte assured Japan that his visit to China was about economics not security, and vowed to stand by Tokyo’s side over South China Sea disputes when the time came.

Comfortable with China

Indeed, before the United States started its Asia Pivot rebalancing exercise in 2009 under the pretext of protecting freedom of water passage in the South China Sea, this region was relatively calm despite territorial disputes, according to an Asean observer who declines to be named.

“To increase its dominance in the Asia-Pacific region in the face of China’s rise as an economic power and its increasing influence, the US has since 2009 began a rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific to contain China’s rise,” says the observer.

And in this exercise, the United States found a close ally in Japan, which has its own disputes with China. Since then, both countries have been carrying out provocative acts in the South China Sea, he adds.

Only with a tense situation in the South China Sea is the United States’ (and Japan’s) larger security presence in the area justified, Ngeow agrees.

One of the provocative arguments put forward by the United States is that China is a threat because of its increased military spending and its declaration of a no-fly zone over the East Asia Sea around Diaoyu Islands after Japan allowed a group of its citizens to claim sovereignty rights over one of the disputed islands.

“To China, the United States’ rebalancing policy and other provocative acts are merely part of the plot with Japan to contain China in all aspects of her developments, economic and military. The United States is worried that a stronger China will be a challenge to US supremacy in the world, although it knows that China is still lagging behind,” says the Asean observer.

Many analysts agree the US claim that China poses a threat is baseless.

“While the United States has military bases all over the world, including in Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia, and it is now working its way towards another one in Vietnam, China has none outside its country,” the observer argues.

In response to Sino-US rivalry, most Asean countries have adopted the balancing strategy of establishing economic ties with China while maintaining security ties with the United States, says Dr Syed Mahmud Ali, an expert on US-China relations.

Asean appears to welcome the US presence in the region, but not to the extent that it becomes a cause of instability, he adds.

“And in this balancing act, Malaysia has done very well – the best in Asean. Its pragmatic pro-China policy has helped to lure vast Chinese investments that are helping its economy now,” the academic added at a talk on Oct 20 at Universiti Malaya.

In general, Asean nations are comfortable with dealing with China as it has maintained its non-interference stance in the internal affairs of countries.

In contrast, the United States is seen as “a bully” meddling in the internal affairs of nations, invading countries and getting entangled in regional wars and conflicts.

What the future holds

But how long can Asean continue with this balancing strategy?

“It’s going to remain fluid, with each acting to advance their own or protect their own interest,” Dr Syed Mahmud feels.

While the United States views China as an emerging threat, it has built up a symbiotic relationship with China in finance, trade and investments.

Indeed, China – in which almost all major US corporations have huge investments – is the largest holder of US treasury, or government bonds.

“Nobody – including the United States – wants to see China experiencing an economic slowdown. This is because it will affect the United States and the whole world,” says Dr Syed Mahmud.

“And I don’t think it is in the interest of either country to go to war. So the status quo may stay,” he says.

Abdul Majid agrees: “The two superpowers – the United States and China – will continue to prevail in this region.”

 

[advill]

I am quite certain that China & Japan are watching very cautiously Durterte's "colourful" & unpredictable character coupled with his emotional outbursts. His main objectives are to get aid & investments/assistance from both China & Japan. Both these countries I believe are very cautious. Investors are not stupid - something got to give.

 

[weig2000]

Among SEA countries, Indonesia (missiles, ships), Thailand (tanks, submarines), Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao (miscellaneous) have all been buying arms from China. Now Malaysia is joining the club. Duterte has also expressed interest; China could possibly supply Philippines with helicopters and drones and other light weapons for its anti-drug and counter-insurgency wars. Vietnam is more challenging because it's traditionally a Russian client and also because potential mutual concerns. But it is not out of the realm of possibilities. Singapore is out of the question since it only buys from the West.

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and China's Premier Li Keqiang attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee

November 1, 2016

By Sue-Lin Wong

BEIJING (Reuters) – Malaysia has agreed to buy four Chinese naval vessels and pledged with Beijing to handle South China Sea disputes bilaterally, a Chinese official said on Tuesday, in what could be China’s latest counter to U.S. influence in the region.

The vessels are known as littoral mission ships, small craft that operate close to shore. Two will be built in China and two in Malaysia, Malaysian state media reported after a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his visiting counterpart Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Last week, Malaysia’s defense ministry said in a posting on social media that the country would sign a contract to purchase patrol vessels from China during Najib’s week-long visit that began on Sunday, but the post was later removed.

The move marks Malaysia’s first significant defense deal with China at a time of rising tension in the South China Sea.

“Leaders of the two sides agreed to further advance the proper settlement of the South China Sea issue with dialogue through a bilateral channel,” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People where Li and Najib met.

“Obviously the launching of naval cooperation between the two sides is significant for our bilateral ties. It’s a reflection of the very high level, mutual political trust between our two countries,” Liu said.

He gave no other details on the deal.

Littoral mission ships can be equipped with a helicopter flight deck and carry missiles. They are primarily used for coastal security, maritime patrol and surveillance, but can also be deployed for disaster relief and search and rescue operations.

China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. But Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have rival claims to parts of the waterway, which commands strategic sea lanes which carry some $5 trillion worth of trade a year.

Najib’s visit follows that of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who announced the country’s “separation” from the United States and signed a raft of memoranda of understanding for Chinese investment in the country.

The push to strengthen China ties comes after July lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department implicating Najib in a money-laundering scandal. Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said Malaysia will cooperate in the international investigations.

“I think there’s a mischaracterisation here. There’s no such thing as using our financial muscle to improve ties,” Liu said in response to a reporter’s question on the issue.

Both nations also signed deals for collaboration to build rail projects in Malaysia, which included the 55 billion ringgit ($13.2 billion) East Coast Rail Line.

Najib told Malaysian state news agency Bernama that both countries had made a historic achievement by signing 14 agreements totaling 143.64 billion ringgit ($34.4 billion).

($1 = 4.1790 ringgit)

(Reporting by Sue-Lin Wong, Writing by Michael Martina; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

 

[Hendrik_2000]

I am quite certain that China & Japan are watching very cautiously Durterte's "colourful" & unpredictable character coupled with his emotional outbursts. His main objectives are to get aid & investments/assistance from both China & Japan. Both these countries I believe are very cautious. Investors are not stupid - something got to give.

Japan can watch all they want but Japan doesn't have the people to people connection that China has.Thanks to the vast overseas chinese population in SEA the tie that bind SEA to China is strong.
The hallmark of overseas Chinese is their sense of responsibility and sharing with their community where they lived

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Duterte finds quality time for little-known Chinese tycoon
Huang Rulun is funding two drug rehabilitation centers in the Philippines. 'This is how you treat your friends,' Duterte said
By

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November 1, 2016 1:55 PM (UTC+8)
At the end of Rodrigo Duterte’s landmark visit to China last month, the Philippines president held a brief private meeting with a businessman who may have played a crucial role in improving ties that have frayed over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Huang Rulun, a rags-to-riches Chinese billionaire funding two huge drug rehabilitation centers in the Philippines, has been held up by Duterte as a symbol of the relationship between the two nations.

Born to a poor family in coastal Fujian province, Huang was a small-time businessman in the Philippines in the 1980s. He spent five years in Manila’s Chinatown district, Binondo, before returning home to found a construction company, Century Golden Resources Group, according to the company’s website.

Huang has a “strong emotional connection” with the Philippines, the company said.

According to its website, privately held Century Golden now employs 20,000 people and posted close to US$5 billion turnover last year. It owns 20 five-star hotels and 10 shopping malls, including the major Century City complex in Beijing.

Huang maintains a relatively low profile in Beijing, although he has extensive political contacts in his home province of Fujian, said a source who knows the businessman well.

He seems to have hit it off with the Philippines president. After a meeting with Huang, Duterte said that being able to meet him made his October visit to China “more complete,” according to a statement from Century Golden. The Philippines “needs friends like Huang,” Duterte was cited as saying.

The meeting took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Beijing the day after Duterte declared a “separation” from the United States and a realignment of his nation’s foreign policy toward China. He has since backtracked, and said he was merely pursuing a more independent foreign policy by strengthening ties with China.

For the Philippines leader, Huang’s support for the rehabilitation centers is in sharp contrast to the criticism of Duterte’s drugs war by the United States and other Western nations.

China, Duterte said, had offered help “without boasting, without news, without publicity.”

“This is how you treat your friends,” he said in a speech. “You do not go about reprimanding.”

At least 2,300 people, mostly small-time addicts and peddlers, have been killed in the Philippines since Duterte took office four months ago and started the crackdown.

About 700,000 addicts have registered with Philippine authorities but the country has few facilities to treat them.

Huang has said he will fund two 10,000-bed rehabilitation centers for drug addicts.

“Drugs have always been a public hazard worldwide,” he said in comments emailed to Reuters by a company official. “They hurt people’s bodies and disrupt social order.”

It is unclear how much he is spending on the centers, whether he will pay for all recurring costs or just the cost of building them, or whether he will receive anything from Manila in return.

“I don’t gamble, I don’t whore and I don’t do drugs”

Huang declined to be interviewed for this story but has portrayed himself to Chinese media as a clean-living philanthropist and says he is funding the centers to improve ties between the two countries.

“As long as the Philippine government maintains a friendly relationship with China, I am very happy to invest in the Philippines,” Huang was quoted as saying by China’s state-run Global Times newspaper in October.

“I don’t gamble, I don’t whore and I don’t do drugs,” he told the official Securities Daily newspaper in 2013. “Me and my son together can’t spend away all my money through our lives. So why not use it to do something meaningful.”

Huang, a school dropout, was a small-time trader in Manila and made “a modest fortune,” according to The Philippine Star newspaper. It was not clear what he traded. According to Forbes magazine, he is now worth about US$3.6 billion.

Century Golden was one of 17 firms and individuals who made payments to Bai Enpei, the former Communist Party boss of southwestern Yunnan province, in return for favors, according to online court documents from a major corruption case in China earlier this year.

It was not immediately clear if Century Golden faces any further legal proceedings. Huang himself was not named.

Court officials declined to comment. Officials at Century Golden also declined to comment on the case.

Huang has been among China’s top six philanthropists named by the Hurun Report since it began publishing a list of top donors in 2012, and donated an estimated $125 million in 2015. According to Hurun, the money was donated to education, infrastructure and social welfare projects.

Before the Beijing meeting, Huang has seen Duterte three times in recent months to discuss what he could do in the Philippines, according to government officials.

Philippines Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said Huang came up with the idea for funding the rehabilitation centers after meeting Duterte at the presidential palace in July.

 

[AssassinsMace]

I imagine Duterte is going to be treated as the Hugo Chavez of Asia. It's funny how this calming of the South China Sea tensions is not the kind of peace some wanted. This is a lesson to be learned that nothing is just face value. They'll cry for freedom and democracy but not the freedom and democracy that one would automatically think of. It's the bait and switch form of freedom and democracy. If Obama can be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize just for being elected as President of the United States, Duterte is surely more qualified. But then again the people who decide who gets it like to trick people also with definitions of words hence why they thought Obama was qualified.

 

[advill]

Weig2000 & Hendrik2000: Yes, I agree that Huang, from Fujian Province and a former resident in Manila has "sentimental" attachments with the Philippines. Like very rich and successful business people, several Overseas Chinese have made good in China because opportunities, ever since respected Core Chinese Leader Deng TsaoPing opened China's doors to the outside world. However, it is difficult to believe that most pragmatic Overseas Chinese are becoming politically loyal, or absolutely beholden to China. Business and profitable investments are their foremost interests i.e. for themselves and their families. Quite similar to the Overseas Chinese are the NRIs (Non-resident Indians), though not great in numbers. These NRIs have migrated and also spread throughout the world: USA, several in Western countries and some parts of Asia. Like the Overseas Chinese, the NRIs focused on personal & family interests. Many have taken up citizenships in those countries they migrated and many born there. They benefitted from education & various opportunities available. BTW, China benefitted from education/ hi-tech etc. training in the US, UK and few other countries including Singapore. Where Southeast Asian Overseas Chinese are concerned, most have also integrated/assimilated in various societies/countries of domicile, and taken up citizenships. Historically, their ancestors (mostly from the South) were forced to leave Dynastic China in the 19th & 20th Century, as there was the famine, wars/hostilities between various Chinese factions/war lords. They were seeking better opportunities overseas for themselves and families/relatives in countries of Southeast Asia. Overseas Chinese are unlike the Jews of Israel - where the "pulling" factors are not only race/nationalism, but importantly their religious belief. When any country is strong, rich and powerful, it is a myopic to believe race attachments are of THE utmost importance. Money and military power does not buy loyalty for any group or groups. unless temporarily for monetary benefits. History has shown this clearly, as so called "loyalty" can be short lived. Much better to have mutual respect, be friendly and sincere with others in today's globalised but troubled world. "Avoid putting yourself before others, and you can become a leader" Tao Te Ching.

 

[weig2000]

Weig2000 & Hendrik2000: Yes, I agree that Huang, from Fujian Province and a former resident in Manila has "sentimental" attachments with the Philippines. Like very rich and successful business people, several Overseas Chinese have made good in China because opportunities, ever since respected Core Chinese Leader Deng TsaoPing opened China's doors to the outside world. However, it is difficult to believe that most pragmatic Overseas Chinese are becoming politically loyal, or absolutely beholden to China. Business and profitable investments are their foremost interests i.e. for themselves and their families. Quite similar to the Overseas Chinese are the NRIs (Non-resident Indians), though not great in numbers. These NRIs have migrated and also spread throughout the world: USA, several in Western countries and some parts of Asia. Like the Overseas Chinese, the NRIs focused on personal & family interests. Many have taken up citizenships in those countries they migrated and many born there. They benefitted from education & various opportunities available. BTW, China benefitted from education/ hi-tech etc. training in the US, UK and few other countries including Singapore. Where Southeast Asian Overseas Chinese are concerned, most have also integrated/assimilated in various societies/countries of domicile, and taken up citizenships. Historically, their ancestors (mostly from the South) were forced to leave Dynastic China in the 19th & 20th Century, as there was the famine, wars/hostilities between various Chinese factions/war lords. They were seeking better opportunities overseas for themselves and families/relatives in countries of Southeast Asia. Overseas Chinese are unlike the Jews of Israel - where the "pulling" factors are not only race/nationalism, but importantly their religious belief. When any country is strong, rich and powerful, it is a myopic to believe race attachments are of THE utmost importance. Money and military power does not buy loyalty for any group or groups. unless temporarily for monetary benefits. History has shown this clearly, as so called "loyalty" can be short lived. Much better to have mutual respect, be friendly and sincere with others in today's globalised but troubled world. "Avoid putting yourself before others, and you can become a leader" Tao Te Ching.

Not sure why this is addressed to me. I never think overseas Chinese should place their loyalty to China. All I have emphasized in this thread is that people or nation should have their real national interest in mind when conducting their diplomatic relationships. I didn't think the previous Philippine government was acting in their best national interest; I think current Philippines government is trying to drive the best bargain among the US, China, Japan and Russia, which is quite understandable and reasonable from Philippines' standpoint.

As a side note, I don't know where you're based but somehow remember that you're from one of the SEA countries, but there have been some tension between China and Singapore lately. I have read recently a lot of comments from Singapore elites about the tension. It appears to me that a lot of them suggest that the biggest reason or source of the tension is because most Chinese believe since Singapore is a Chinese-dominated society therefore Singapore should adopt a pro-China policy. I don't know where this notion was originated from, probably from way back when, but majority of contemporary Chinese think Singapore is just another nation, albeit sharing some familiarity such as Chinese language and food. The reason some Chinese have been pissed off by some of Singapore's diplomatic statements and activities because they've stepped on China's core interest (that is if Singapore insists that the illegal rulings from PCA be legal and China comply with them). It appears to me these Singapore elites are making these kinds of accusation either because they're ignorant or are trying to be preemptive in the arguments. In fact, I would argue that there is no guarantee that it would be all warm-and-fuzzy between ethnic Chinese societies. Think about mainland China and Taiwan: war could break out any time between the two sides.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

@advill I think you misunderstood my posting Nowhere did I say that the overseas Chinese loyalty should be to China . Of course their loyalty should be to their country where they reside.

But the rich tapestry of interwoven family and friend between China and SEA provide a strong bridge that in time of distress can heal dispute and misunderstanding between China and SEA country. Like what happened in Phillipine

For a long time overseas Chinese feel uncomfortable living in SEA and forced to hide their culture and tradition some time willingly sometime unwillingly

But many now are in the opinion that instead a problem it is the solution for the plague that haunt SEA country like corruption, misgovernment and no economy progress.

As for Singapore I do agree that they are going a bit to far this time around . It is okay if you don't agree with China . But it is different thing if they actively try to undermine China interest.in international forum
I guess Tony Koh is probably the proponent of active support for UNCLOS since he is the principal architect of UNCLOS and His insistence on so called rule of law is a bit ridiculous . I read his opinion on Strait Times